Inquest into Irish Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan

An Irish soldier who was killed while investigating a suspicious device was heard laughing moments before his death, an inquest has heard.

Ranger Aaron McCormick from Macosquin, County Derry, died after the explosion blasted the 22-year-old over a wall on Rememberance Sunday 2010.

The soldier who was from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment got down on his belly to investigate the device, after shifting his weight the device exploded.

The inquest was told the Irish soldier’s injuries were so severe; there was no chance of survival.

The leader of the patrol, Sergeant Peter Keogh, told the inquest that a line of stones were deposited near their checkpoint. They believed local residents had placed them there as. The patrol examined the stones and Ranger McCormick, who had been carrying the mine detector got down on the ground to examine the area.

Sgt Keogh, who was present when the device went off said: "I remember watching at the time. He shifted his weight. He did something. He moved and the device functioned.

"I was just behind him. I was blown off my feet."

The coroner recorded a verdict of unlawful killing while on active service in Afghanistan.